Moisture ejector valve and system



Dec. 19, 1950 c. o. BRUESTLE MQISTURE EJECTOR VALVE AND SYSTEM Filed Feb. 27. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ///W//JV/////,

INVENTOR ATTOQNEYS a CARL 0. BRUESTLE Dec.'19, 1950 c. o. BRUESTLE 2,534,697

MOISTURE EJECTOR VALVE AND SYSTEM Fil ed Feb. 2?, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 7 119 J xx INVENTOR. CARL. O. BRUESTLE ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOISTURE EJECTOR VALVE AND SYSTEM Carl 0. Bruestle, Rahway, N..J.

Application February 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,733

Claims. (Cl. 303-88) This invention relates to a valve and a system employing it by means of which the moisture (condensate) which collects in compressed air systems is ejected therefrom each time the system is operated.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel form of moisture ejector valve which is selfcleaning, reliable in operation, has a minimum tendency to freeze, is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, insures against loss of reservoir pressure should the valve become defective and is automatic in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure fluid system and particularly a compressed air system incorporating the valve of this invention in such manner that each time a pressure fluid operated device forming part of the system is actuated any accumulated moisture in the system and particularly in the reservoir is automatically ejected.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction and relative location of parts all as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical central cross sectional view through one form of moisture ejector valve in accordance with this invention showing the valve in an unactuated position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the valve actuated;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line fi i of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic and schematic illustration of a system employing this valve;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal central vertical cross sectional view through a modified form of valve showing it actuated;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3-7? of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 6.

It is well understood in the art of compressed air systems such as are used on vehicles as, for example, bus-es, streetcars, and railway cars, both surface and subway, that rovision must be made for the ejection from the system of moisture (condensate) which collects therein. In

accordance with this invention moisture ejection is efiected each time the system is actuated.

The valve of Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, includes a main one-piece housing i having a central passage therethrough, and internal threads at the ends as shown. This housing is provided with an apertured internally threaded boss 2 and an internal annular formation ll of reduced diameter forming a restricted passageway which, as illustrated, consists of an initial portion of fixed radius in the direction of air flow and a terminal portion of gradually increasing radius to form a flaring throat. Threadedly secured in the righthand end of the housing l is a bushing 3 forming a fluid tight seal therewith in cooperation with the gasket 4. The bushing 3 has a passage therethrough of two sections of different diameter. The passage 5 is internally threaded as shown and the remainder thereof formed by the sleeve part 6 is of fixed radius to form a cylinder for the piston I3.

Threadedly mounted in the other end of the housing I is a bushing '5 having an exhaust port 9 and forming a fluid tight seal with the housing by cooperation with the gasket 8. The sleeve portion [G of the bushing is of fixed radius and forms a cylinder for the guide ll which is not of circular cross section in view of the flat sides ll formed thereon.

A piston rod I2 is formed on one end of the annularly grooved piston 13 in which is mounted an O-seal ring it. Intermediate the ends of the piston rod i2 is mounted a second annularly grooved piston l 5 in which is mounted the 0-seal ring it. The lefthand end of the piston rod i2 is provided with a wedge-shaped terminal end it. Interpo-sed between the head end of the bushing l and the non-circular guide ll is a compression spring i9.

The complete valve is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5 by the reference character EV. The threaded port in the boss 2 is connected to the sump S of the reservoir R by means of a pipe 20. The reservoir R comprises the storage tank for the compressed fluid, usually air, which is compressed and delivered thereto by means of a power driven compressor (not shown) as is well known in the art. The main compressed air supply connection from the reservoir R is provided by the pipe 2! which is connected to any suitable form of manual or power actuated valve V through a pressure reducing or regulating device PR. The valve V is illustrated as of the manual type and there is provided the actuating handle H. This valve is also provided with the exhaust connection E and a pressure fluid supply pipe 23 which connects to one or more pressure fluid actuated devices to be controlled by the valve V as, for example, the brake cylinder BC.

It is assumed that the valve V is shown in Figure 5 in unactuated or normal position at which time the brake cylinder BC is connected to atmosphere through pipe 23, valve V and exhaust E. Pressure fluid from the reservoir R is supplied at a reduced pressure ,to the valve V through the regulator PR but the port in the valve supplied by the pipe 2! is sealed off. Pipe 22 is also connected to atmosphere through the exhaust E. Pressure fluid is continuously supplied to the ejector valve EV through the pipe 20 and into the space in that valve between the pistons I3 and I5, the piston I2 and connected parts-being in the position shown in Figure 1. Any moisture that may collect in the sump S will drain through the pipe 20 into that space and particularly into the pocket P, 'see Figure 1, assuming that the valve EV is-placed with relation to the reservoir -R in-the-manner illustrated iii-Figure 5. As will be apparent, however, this physical -relationship neednot-exist-becausethe moisure will be-driven from the sump S to and through the valve EV to atmosphere when the device is actuated by the movement-of air-along thesamepath as will now be described.

When the handle H of valve V is actuated to connect pipe 2| to pipe 23 and thus operate the brakes by the supply of-pressurefiuidto the-brake cylinder, air will also be delivered from valve 'V through the pipe '22 to the righthand -face -01 piston I3. This air will be supplied at a'p essure lower than that in the reservoir but the piston assembly will move to the positionshownin Figure 12because pistons I3 and I5 have thesame area andtherefore'thehigher pressure from the reservoir from the pipe 20, although acting on these pistons, .will be balanced. Therefore, .the supply of .air at lower pressure to the righthand face of piston I3 will cause the piston rod and connectedparts tomove from the positionshown in figure 1 to the position shown in Figure '2. For a period of thismovement the piston I5 will have moved out ofsealing relation with a portion of the internal annular ring ,II .so .thatair may pass through the flaring throat formed thereby and around the piston l5 until it moves intoseal- .ing engagement .with the cylinder formed .by the sleeve Ill. .As the air in .the reservoir R. isat ,a relatively high pressure theescapingair willfollow this .pathat high enough velocity to carry with .it any moisture which hasaccumulated in the sump S, the piDeZO and the pocket P.

This moisture laden air can pass .by the noncircular guide I? and discharge to atmosphere through the port 9. Howevenas soonas ,thepiston [5 moves .into the cylinder or sleeve It the .escapepf air ,through the port 9 will becut ofi. II'he piston assembly will remain in the position shown in Figure 2 as long as the brakes or other .pressure fluid actuatedclevice are supplied with V compressed air. ,As soon as the handle .I-Lof valve 1V returns to thenormalposition shown in Figure 5 thesupplypf pressure fluid through the pipe 2| is cut-,ofh'thecylinder of the brake-is connectedto exhaust and the cylinder for ;piston ;I3 ;is :connected .to.-exhaust so that spring I9 which was previously compressed-canreturn the valve piston assembly to the .positionshown-infigurel. During .the intermediate transient position of the piston assembly on :its returnstroke, a quantity .end but provided with a series of ports I43 opening into the pocket P. The bushing sealed in the housing by a gasket I04 and receives I03 is the pipe 22 as before. The piston II3 which moves in the cylinder formed by the sleeve I06 is provided in this case with a pair of annular grooves in one of which is mounted the o-seal ring I'M and in the other of which is mounted the felt ring H4.

Threadedly mounted and'sealed in the other endof the housingvIDI isa'bushing i8! which in thiscase has a somewhat more elongated form .thanthat illustrated in'Figure 1 sealed with the housing by means of the gasket I08. The sleeve portion il'fizas'before formsa cylinder into which theannularly grooved piston II5 with its O-seal ring H6 may move as before. The piston rod :I I2 unites'the pistons I I3 and I I5 and is provided with anon-circular guide I I1 formedby the flats it? as before. The extending end N8 of the -piston=rod in this-case is provided with a conical,

circular seating end H8 for cooperation with a similarly shaped seat Iill" formed around the-exhaust aperture I99.

On the extendedboss I02 is threadedly mounted an apertured bushing I59 forming a seal with the boss I02 by cooperation with the gasket I4I. The bushing I49 receives the pipe 20 at one end and is provided with a conical seat M2 at the other end with which cooperates a ball valve I44 biased to seating 'position by'means oi the spring I455. The valve housing IOI isprovided with the internal annular ring I I I as before which in this case forms a passage consisting of a'sliort converging portion, a portion of fixed radius and a portion of increasing radius, all in the direction of air flow.

The operation of this valve is generaly similar to the one previously described. The felt ring PM is saturated with oil, keeping the cylinder 'wall in the bushing 5G3 lubricated, thereby increasing -theliie of the O-seal ring HA.

In view of the fact that solid particles may accumulate in the system and from time to time be ejected through this valve, they arerliable to become lodged in such a position or-so damage the O-seal ring its as to let air escape around the piston M5 to atmosphere, assuming the conical end N8 .of the piston assembly is not in sealing engagement with the seat I91. Un-

gder these conditions, the pressure fluid in the reservoir will slowly leak through the line 20 around the ball check valve I4 until the presvsure in .the reservoir has fallen to avalue where spring M5 is strong enough to reseat the check valve. This spring can be selected so asto maintain a minimum pressure in the reservoir below which it may not fall by slow leakage due to these conditions. It will be quite apparent that if the check valve is not used, all the air in the reservoir might ultimately leak to atmosphere.

Thus, the check valve M4 is provided to hold a predetermined minimum pressure in the reservoir. Those skilled in the art will understand that the check valve need not be incorporated in the valve body H]! but could be a separate check valve connected in the line 20.

In the event that spring H9 should fail for any reason, it is apparent that the piston assembly of the valve would not be returned to normal position corresponding to the position of the valve as illustrated in Figure 1. It would more likely remain in the position shown in Fi ure 6 in which case the port I99 would be closed by the valve comprising the seat 19? and the conical end H8 of the extension N8 of the piston rod. Thus, the full reservoir pressure would be maintained should this valve fail to operate for any reason including spring fatigue.

This cooperation also serves as a stop for the valve piston assembly in normal operation.

It will of course be understood that the ejector valve will operate to remove moisture from the system in the same way as the valve of Figure 1 for actuation in either direction and further description in this respect is not necessary.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the details comprising the invention herein disclosed are pistons, a spring normally holding said pistons so that one is on said seat and the other is at the end of the cylinder having said connection and means for supplying a pressure fluid to the space between said pistons, said pistons at said annular seat cooperating with said second cylinder to prevent the exhaust of pressure fluids through said exhaust port when said valve is actuated.

2. In the combination of claim 1, means attached to said piston for also closing said exhaust port when said valve is actuated.

3. In the combination of claim 1, said means for supplying pressure fluid to the space between said pistons including a normally closed check valve urged to open position for movement of air into said space.

4. In the combination of claim-1, said pistons having peripheral rooves and O-seal rings mounted therein.

5. In the combination of claim 1, the first of said pistons having a pair of peripheral grooves and the second one a single peripheral groove, a lubricating ring in one of the grooves of said pair and an O-seal ring in the other two grooves.

CARL O. BRUESTLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 293,774 Paradise Feb. 19, 1884 1,680,288 Gottschalk Aug. 14, 1928 2,410,799 Bassett Nov. 12, 1946 

